The Study of Signs: Marks Made Large
Signs are symbols of storytelling, of legend and legacy, of badges that reach out as cards of narrative fortune. There are clues in the cultural rendition of the larger messages of enterprise in the form of signs — and as placards, they offer a...
NATIONAL TREASURES | THE PASSAGE OF HAROLD BALAZS
OUR NATIONAL ART TREASURES | LAMENTING THE PASSAGE OF HAROLD BALAZS. ISN’T IT SO THAT EACH OF US HAS A PERSONAL FLOWERING THAT COULD HAVE SPROUTED FROM A SINGLE LUMINOUS POINT OF INSPIRATION? JUST THINK OF IT: YOUR LIFE CHANGES, MOMENTS OF IGNITION, ILLUMINATIVE...
COWBOY UP | BRAND STRATEGY AND DESIGN FOR COWBOYS
WRANGLER®, BADLANDERS AND COWBOY SPIRIT. DESIGNING BRANDS AROUND AMERICAN COWBOY ETHOS. I noted the Wrangler event in Vegas [now running] and it reminded me of my journeys into farm-work, bull riders and cowboy culture — here and abroad. We have deep history in the...
BRAND CENTERING | THE NEXUS OF CREATIVITY: WANDERING, GATHERING & RECOLLECTION
AS A DESIGNER, A BRAND PERSON — A CREATIVE, A STRATEGIST, A MARKETER — YOU WORK IN THREADING ALIGNMENTS OF CREATIVITY. THAT COMES TO THIS PARALLELISM: THE SYNCHRONY OF HOW YOU THINK, WHAT YOU’VE WORKED ON AND WITH, AS WELL AS WHERE YOU’VE BEEN. IT COMES DOWN TO: WHAT...
ZEN BRANDS | THE CALLIGRAPHY OF NOTHINGNESS: THE MU KOAN.
DRAFTING ABSTRACTION — THE MYSTERY OF PRESENTING NOTHING AND ABSENCE OF PRESENCE. In our brand work, we’re always looking at how to “be there,” how to “present,” how to offer solutions that are about context, place-making, certainty of premise, a real promise and...
THE CODE OF THE MESSAGE | THE DESIGN OF THE ALPHABET
THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE MIND: FROM THOUGHT TO WORD IN DESIGNED LETTERFORM LINGUISTICS | ALPHABETS AS BRAND VOCABULARIES. Working on hundreds of logos and corporate identity packages, in decades of design and brand development for clients around the world, over time...
Could you design your building like the Universe?
THINK COSMIC: ARCHITECTURE AS A PLACE-MAKING MAP OF THE UNIVERSE: THE CIRCLE OF HEAVEN AND THE SQUARE OF EARTH - DESIGNING PLACES OF DEEPER SYMBOLISM. It’s true that every place has a symbolic value — every place has a sensation of personalized relevance, resonant...
NINTENDO NEBULA | DESIGNING GAME WORLDS
STORYTELLING NINTENDO BRAND DESIGN FOR NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS, GAME BOY, SUPER NINTENDO, VIRTUAL BOY AND ULTRA64. OLDER, LEGACY GAMING SYSTEMS are becoming more popular, as in antiquated coolness, old hip as new, dope software. Even Atari shows up in...
Brand Gesture | What story does your hand tell?
THE SECRET HAND SHAKE, THE CARD WELL PLAYED, THE CONVERSATIONAL ALLUSION? MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME EARLY TO WATCH WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY SPEAK. In fact, we used to walk together and she’d say — “what do you think they’re saying?” “See those people over there, what are...
WEAVING IDEAS | THE SYMBOLISM OF THE NEST
THE HORNET’S NEST OF INSPIRATIONS When I was young, till now, I have a profound fascination with insects. Really, arthropoda—insecta, arachnida and crustacea. That’s insects, spiders and crab-like creatures. Those hard-shelled creatures of earth, air and water. I...